Festivals Acadiens et Créoles is here again, happening October 7-11 at Girard Park in Lafayette. This year's festival is a little extra special, as it commemorates 250 years of Acadians surviving and thriving in southern Louisiana. Since the first Acadians arrived here in February of 1765, their descendants have integrated influences from their French, Spanish, German, Anglo-American, American Indian and African Creole neighbors to produce a cultural fusion that has become nationally renown.

Festival de Musique, part of the larger festival, will showcase the best of Cajun and Zydeco music beneath the spreading oaks of Girard Park in Lafayette, LA. Festival de Musique Acadienne originated as the Tribute to Cajun Music Festival, an event that was designed to attract and educate the younger generation to the traditional values of the Cajun culture. Festival de Musique Acadienne now attracts Louisiana's best Cajun and Zydeco bands and draws thousands of people from across the country and around the world.

The festival also features some of the finest Louisiana cuisine. This year's menu includes fried soft-shell crab, seafood and artichoke lasagna, barbecue boudin, crawfish fettucini, corn and crab bisque, meat pies, catfish courtbouillion, wild game jambalaya, bread pudding, pralines, and much more.

Learn more about Acadian (Cajun) culture and the history behind this festival at their website.

Full music schedule:

Scène Ma Louisiane

Friday, Oct. 9

5:30 - 6:45p Acadian Connection f/Terry Huval & Jambalaya, DL Menard, Hert LeBanc, Jo-El Sonnier, Christine Balfa, Kevin Wimmer & Waylon Thibodeaux
7:15 - 8:45p Geno Delafose & French Rockin Boogie

Saturday, Oct. 10

10:30 - 11:30a Rachel Wilson and Cajun Express
11:45a - 12:45p T-Salé, with tribute to Cyp and Adam Landreneau
1 - 2:15p Jeffrey Broussard & the Creole Cowboys & Family Juré
2:30 - 3:30p Kevin Naquin and the Ossun Playboys
3:45 - 4:45p Horace Trahan and the Ossun Express
5 - 6p Roddie Romero and the Hub City All Stars
6:15 - 7:30p Bonsoir, Catin

Sunday, Oct. 11

10:30 - 11:30a Robert Jardell and Pure Cajun
11:45a - 12:45p Dog Hill Stompers
1 - 2p Hert LeBlanc Band from Bouctouche, New Brunswick, Canada
2:15 - 3:15p Travis Matte and the Kingpins
3:30 - 4:30p Richard LeBoeuf and Two-Step
4:45 - 5:45p Jo-El Sonnier
6:00 - 7:15p Wayne Toups ZydeCajun

Scène Mon Héritage

Saturday, Oct. 10

10:45 - 11:45a Sheryl Cormier and Cajun Sound
12 - 1p Ruben Moreno and Zydeco Re-Evolution
1:15 - 2:15p Magnolia Sisters
2:30 - 3:30p Pine Leaf Boys
3:45 - 4:45p Corey Ledet Zydeco Band
5 - 6:30p Feufollet

Sunday, Oct. 11

10:30 - 11:30a Lil Wayne and Same Old Two-Step
11:45a - 12:45p Babineaux Sisters
1 - 2p Chubby Carrière and the Bayou Swamp Band
2:15 - 3:15p Lost Bayou Ramblers
3:30 - 4:45p Terry and the Zydeco Bay Boys
5:00 - 6:30p Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys

Salle de Danse

Saturday, Oct. 10

11a - 12p Lafayette Rhythm Devils
12:15 - 1:15p Zydeco Radio
1:30 - 2:30p Sweet Crude
2:45 - 4p Creole String Beans
4:15 - 5:30p Savoy Family Band

Sunday, Oct. 11

9 - 10a French Mass
11a - 12pp Paul Daigle & Cajun Gold
12:15 - 1:15p Keith Frank & the Soileau Zydeco Band
1:30 - 2:30p Red Beans and Rice Revue Reunion
2:45 - 3:45p The Revelers
4:00 - 5:30p Gregg Martinez and the Delta Kings

Atelier

Saturday, Oct. 10

11:30a - 12:30p Is it ladylike? Christine Balfa, Sheryl Cormier, Mary Broussard, Kristi Guillory
12:45 - 1:45p Acadian Ballads - David Greely, Barry Ancelet, Megan Brown & Hert Leblanc
2 - 3p Pianorama - Rick Lagneaux, Wilson Savoy & Eric Adcock
3:15 - 4:15p Electric Guitars - Sam Broussard, Chris Stafford & Tommy Shreve
4:30 - 5:30p Bruce "Sunpie" Barnes, Leroy Etienne, Aurelien Barnes - Louisiana Creole French Songs

Sunday, Oct. 11

11:30a - 12:30p Master Fiddlers - Kevin Wimmer & Mitch Reed
12:45 - 1:45p Steel Guitars in Cajun Dance Halls - Randall Foreman, Richard Comeaux & Marty Broussard
2 - 3p Fiddlers with amps - Jamie Bearb, Jason Bergeron, Travis Matte
3:15 - 4:15p Accordion theory - Jason Frey, Steve Riley and Dexter Ardoin
4:30 - 5:30p Sweet Cecelia

Anniversary Stage

Saturday, Oct. 10

11:30a - 12:30p Huval – Fuselier Cajun Trio
12:45 - 1:45p Ervin Frey and the Eunice Ramblers
2 - 3p Kira Viator and Bayou Beat
3:15 - 4:15p Cameron Dupuy and the Cajun Troubadours
4:30 - 5:30p Ray Abshire & Friends

Sunday, Oct. 11

11:30a - 12:30p Dexter Ardoin Band
12:45 - 1:45p T'Monde
2 - 3p Courtbouillon
3:15 - 4:15p Jimmy Breaux and Friends
4:30 - 5:30p Goldman Thibodeaux and Friends

Jam Ça!

Saturday, Oct. 10

12:00 - 1:15p Kira Viator
1:30 - 2:45p Sheryl & Russell Cormier
3:00 - 4:15p Jeffery Broussard and D'Jalma Garnier

Sunday, Oct. 11

12 - 1:15p Jimmy Breaux
1:30 - 2:45p Horace Trahan
3 - 4:15p Angelle Aces with Kristi Guillory